Gone Puck Wild
Fansided

Analyzing the Unrestricted Free Agent Pool According to Minnesota Wild’s Needs

By Lake Martin

DALLAS, TX - JUNE 22: Paul Fenton of the Minnesota Wild attends the first round of the 2018 NHL Draft at American Airlines Center on June 22, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX - JUNE 22: Paul Fenton of the Minnesota Wild attends the first round of the 2018 NHL Draft at American Airlines Center on June 22, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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Honorable Mentions

Jason Pominville (62.5 Points)

BUFFALO, NY – April 4: Jason Pominville #29 of the Buffalo Sabres skates against the Ottawa Senators during an NHL game on April 4, 2019, at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images)
BUFFALO, NY – April 4: Jason Pominville #29 of the Buffalo Sabres skates against the Ottawa Senators during an NHL game on April 4, 2019, at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images) /

The former Wild winger finished almost in the exact middle of the max score, scoring well for being a right-handed shot and the number of games he played last year, but scoring poorly for his average Time on Ice (12:29), his goals and assists (16G,14A), and his age (35). The Buffalo winger could be useful for the Wild, adding a depth scoring threat and a reliable mentor to our baby-faced core, but when it mattered most, Pominville was unable to finish in his first stint with the Wild. From when he joined the Wild in the 2012-2013 season, to when he was moved with Marco Scandella (stud) for Marcus Foligno (stud) and Tyler Ennis (dud) after the 2016-2017 season, he scored 9 goals in 36 postseason games, including two playoff runs in which he scored zero goals.

Pominville’s last contract had an AAV of $5.6 Million that lasted for 5 years. At 35, and with declining production, it is sensible to believe Pominville’s next contract will be worth significantly less, likely around the 2-3 year length and an AAV of $1.2Mil to $2.3Mil. However, I don’t believe Paul Fenton will be actively pursuing Pominville. Fenton would be working against the narrative he’s been pushing in St. Paul– that the Wild are getting younger and faster and are looking to build for deeper, long runs in the playoffs. I am also hesitant to believe Pominville would want to join the Wild, as he had a no-trade clause when he resigned with the Wild in 2014, but waived it to return to Buffalo. My best guess is he resigns with Buffalo or retires, and awaits to see if 29 will get raised to the rafters at KeyBank Center.

But it could be nice to have him. Who can forget this ripper over Corey Crawford at TCF Bank Stadium?

Jordan Shroeder (52.5 pts)

Remember when Jordan Shroeder, Chris Stewart, and Tyler Graovac were running the fourth line together? They were oddly effective. Stewart and Graovac were the big bodies wearing down the opposition and Shroeder possessed the electric speed that created opportunities for his linemates. Since leaving the Wild, Shroeder has bounced around different AHL teams, did not play a game in an NHL jersey last season, and thus scores poorly for games played, goals/assists, and time on ice. But he is still young (27), he’s fast, and he’s right-handed.

His last contract was 2 years in length and had an AAV of $1.3Mil. It wouldn’t be a bad gamble; if he works out, he retains a spot in Minnesota, if not he can be sent to Iowa. If Paul Fenton and Bruce Boudreau plan on leaving the new core mostly together, it would open up the opportunity to place Zucker and Shroeder on a line together. Imagine that speed.

Brian Boyle (53.5 pts)

NASHVILLE, TN – APRIL 20: Nashville Predators center Brian Boyle (11) is shown during Game Five of Round One of the Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Nashville Predators and Dallas Stars, held on April 20, 2019, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Danny Murphy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN – APRIL 20: Nashville Predators center Brian Boyle (11) is shown during Game Five of Round One of the Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Nashville Predators and Dallas Stars, held on April 20, 2019, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Danny Murphy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

I see no future in which Brian Boyle joins the Wild; he doesn’t really solve the issue of our lack of scoring. But, imagine Boyle and Marcus Foligno on a line together. Absolutely absurd. So many checks finished, a whole lot of grit, and a lot of guts. Throw Jordan Greenway on that line, you have 3 tall, large men. Kind of fun to think about.

Kurtis Gabriel (32.5 pts)

EDMONTON, AB – MARCH 13: Milan Lucic #27 of the Edmonton Oilers fights with Kurtis Gabriel #39 of the New Jersey Devils on March 13, 2019, at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images)
EDMONTON, AB – MARCH 13: Milan Lucic #27 of the Edmonton Oilers fights with Kurtis Gabriel #39 of the New Jersey Devils on March 13, 2019, at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Same as Brian Boyle. Also this clip. Also 4 fights in 6 games with the Wild in 2016. Yeah, he got bodied. But he did it for the team.

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